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Sir Edmund William Gosse papers

 Collection
Identifier: D.46

Biographical / Historical note

Sir Edmund William Gosse (1849-1928) poet and man of letters, was the only son of the zoologist Philip Henry Gosse (1810-1888). He was successively employed in the cataloguing department of the British Museum, 1865-1875, as translator to the Board of Trade, 1875-1904, and as Librarian to the House of Lords, 1904-1914. From 1875 he published volumes of poetry, criticism and biography, which led to a lecture tour in the United States in 1884-85 and an appointment as lecturer in English literature at Cambridge, 1885-1890. His reputation as a critic suffered in a controversy with John Churton Collins in 1886, but he eventually recovered and from 1918 to 1928 he wrote a series of weekly columns about books for the Sunday Times. Gosse's acquaintances included most of literary London, and his home was a meeting place for many friends.

Scope and Contents

The Sir Edmund William Gosse Papers are comprised of one box containing correspondence concerning the details of publishing and criticism, business exchanges, and social notes. The letters to Theodore Blake Wirgman, sculptor and painter, concern paintings, Academy showings, and social occasions. Other correspondents include Jack Lindsay of Franfrolico Press, Kate Douglas Wiggin, John Lane, Oswald John Frederick Crawfurd, and Clarence Winthrop Bowen.

Creator

Dates

  • Creation: 1882-1929

Language of Materials

English

Extent

1 box(es)

Access

The Sir Edmund William Gosse Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books, Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Use

In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was the gift of Gamma Phi Sorority, August 1974; Purchased from Rendell, March 18, 1975; Motley Collection-gift of Mrs. Albert Eastwood.

Further accruals are not expected.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Sir Edmund William Gosse Papers, D.46, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Genre / Form

Geographic

Occupation

Related Archival Materials

Other collections in the Department of Rare Books & Special Collections relating to the Sir Edmund William Gosse Papers are:

Pearl Mary Teresa Richards Craigie Papers.

Other collections outside the Department of Rare Books & Special Collections relating to the Sir Edmund William Gosse Papers are:

Dictionary of National Biography

Charteris, Evan. The life and letters of Sir Edmund Gosse.

A catalogue of the Gosse correspondence in the Brotherton collection.

Title
Sir Edmund William Gosse papers
Author
Finding aid prepared by Rare Books and Special Collections staff
Date
undated
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Library Details

Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library

Contact:
Rochester NY 14627-0055 USA